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Acceptable Obedience

In our previous study, of acceptable faith, we learned that the Word of God instructs us to add obedience to our belief in order to perfect our faith. 

Paul teaches in (Romans 4:16) that "...it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed..."  So we see that in the end, we will be saved by grace, through faith.  Paul opened and closed this letter to the Romans with a reference to "obedience to the faith" (Romans 1:5, 16:26).  Paul teaches in this epistle that the faith of the new testament church is a faith that is obedient to God's will.  Paul would not contradict himself in his teaching so one must therefore harmonize all his instruction on faith into a single unified message.

Disobedience to God is sin.  Adam sinned when he disobeyed God's instruction by eating of the forbidden fruit, (Romans 5:19).  The words "works" and "obedience" are Biblically related.  Likewise, the words "disobedience" and "sin"  can be interchanged as well.  Acceptable obedience is that which is commanded by and has the approval of God.

Jesus Himself had to be obedient.  John quoted the words of Jesus in chapter 12, verse 49, "For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak."  The Hebrew writer adds, "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him, (Hebrews 5:8-9).  The conclusion one must draw from this is that eternal salvation will be denied to those who do not obey Jesus. 

Jesus commanded us to "Abide in" Him, (John 15:4).  If we do not abide in Him, we are, "cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned, (John 15:6).  We are told exactly how to do this just 4 verses later.  "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love, (John 15:10).

Jesus told the apostles to teach "all nations" to "observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you," (Matthew 28:20).  In the parable of the wise and foolish builders, Jesus said that "whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock," (Matthew 7:24-25).  He went on to say that he who "heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it," (Matthew 7:26-27).

The rock the wise man built his house on was the rock of obedience that we can build our salvation on.  The rains and the floods and the wind cannot tear it down.  The "gates of Hell shall not prevail it against it," (Matthew 16:18).  Nothing on earth or in heaven can "separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord," (Romans 8:39).

Acceptable obedience is not a one time thing.  Obedience to the commandments of Jesus require a lifelong commitment.  In his letter to Timothy, Paul exhorted him to "Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee," (1 Timothy 4:16).  Timothy was an evangelist in Ephesus at the time of Paul's letter.  If lifelong continued obedience was a requirement for Timothy, then it is for us as well.  Paul also taught continuance in obedience to the Roman Christians.  "To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life, (Romans 2:7). 

Acceptable obedience before God is for life, both here and eternally.  Disobedience to the will of God is sin and the "wages of sin is death", (Romans 6:23).  One cannot earn salvation because it is a gift, but one can earn destruction by disobedience. 

Jesus Christ Himself commanded us to Labour so that we could receive His gift of everlasting life.
(John 6:27)
"Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed." 
 

Next... Salvation by Grace
to all.


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Matt 11:28-29
"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls."